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Sora was a traitor, a spy. Dabi knew that now. He should’ve known that from the start. He should’ve known that the man was a liar. God, had everything been a lie? Those nights they had shared together, the nights where Sora (no, Hawks. He was just Hawks to Dabi) had said that he loved him. Every word… had any of it even been true?
Dabi didn’t have any way of knowing. Ever since Hawks had been exposed, he’d gone off the radar. Probably being hidden by the Hero Commission or something like that. He was going to roast that bird whenever he found him.
He gets snapped out of his thoughts of getting revenge on Hawks when his phone starts vibrating. It’s Shigaraki. Better answer it.
“What is it?” He answered, his tone coming off as annoyed. Well, he is so that’s how he should sound.
“Apparently Ujiko’s got another Nomu ready for you to try out,” said Shigaraki on the other end, unfazed by Dabi’s bad mood.
“Alright,” he replied. Maybe attacking the heroes with the new Nomu would lift his spirits. Who knows? If he was lucky, then maybe Endeavor would show up and he could finally kill him. That would definitely make him feel better. The thought of it almost makes him smile. He’d gotten so close last time…
He remembered that Shigaraki was still on the phone. “Is that it, or did you just call to tell me that?”
“That’s it,” he said and then ended the call. That was that.
A dark liquid started to surround Dabi a few moments later and he stood there, letting it take him away. He knew where he was going. He got taken to the dark, quiet place that was Ujiko’s lab. “So you made another Nomu?” Dabi asked, his voice monotone. “Where is it?”
“It’s right here,” Ujiko told him and out of the shadows stepped a red Nomu, but it was different than the other ones Dabi had seen, different than the High-End and different than a Low or Mid-End. It seemed… familiar.
It was smaller and thinner, keeping low to the ground as if it were afraid of him. It had a sharp beak instead of a mouth. Ash blonde feathers started from the back of its head underneath its brain, running down its back in between its dark crimson wings.
Dabi froze when he saw the wings. He knew those wings. Though they were darker compared to the vibrant red wings he had known before, they were still the same.
“You didn’t…” Dabi muttered to Ujiko, still staring at the Nomu. Ujiko was quiet, interested to see his reaction.
And then the Nomu looked up at him and Dabi felt his heart break into a million little pieces.
Those eyes. They still looked human. Though, they aren’t the same. The warm brown eyes he used to know, the eyes that had always been filled with light, were now cold and lifeless, as if Dabi were a stranger.
“Sora…” The name slipped off his tongue and he forgot that Sora was just supposed to be Hawks, that Sora was a person who had betrayed him and just been trying to get information.
Dabi dropped to his knees. He couldn’t stop himself. He brought a hand to Sora’s face, cupping the side of it. The Nomu flinched at first but soon realized that Dabi wasn’t going to hurt him and leaned into his touch, letting out a small cry.
He parted his beak open and tried to speak. “Da..bi…” His voice isn’t right. It comes out strangled sounding, like a mix between something human and something completely animalistic. And, that’s completely what it is.
Something wet dropped onto Dabi’s hand and he could see tears rolling down Sora’s face. It just made him feel even worse.
“So he does remember you,” Ujiko said but Dabi wasn’t listening. He could barely hear a word the man was saying. “I tested him earlier and he didn’t seem to remember a thing from who he was before. But, it appears seeing you triggered something for him.”
Dabi looked up and glared at him. “Why’d you choose him for your Nomu experiments?” He spat, his eyes burning with rage.
Ujiko narrowed his eyes. “Oh, and I suppose you and the League killing him is a better alternative? I saved him for you, show some gratitude,” he growled.
“Oh, and him suffering like this is so much better!” He sneered. He stood up. “Come on Sora, we’re leaving,” he muttered. The Nomu followed him without hesitation and a small part of Dabi flickered with doubt. Was he programmed to do everything Dabi asked, or did he actually want to come with him? If he had to guess, it was probably the former.
As they left the lab behind, it occured to Dabi that Sora would probably never be able to make his own decisions, or think for himself. Not really, at least.
To say the least, when Dabi came back to the base for the Paranormal Liberation Front, he had gotten a few odd looks from people since he had an entire Nomu by his side. But, they didn’t say anything to him about it.
He never let the Nomu near any fights. He made sure nothing happened to Sora.
All the Nomu could say was “Dabi” and “hurts.”
But soon, he started to say other things. He begged Dabi to kill him so he wouldn’t have to live that way any longer.
And every day Dabi looked at him, every day where he saw how miserable Sora was and how much he hurt, it broke him.
So, he fulfilled the Nomu’s wish.
The bird didn’t sing anymore.
Dabi's days were silent.